studio
photography
I wanted to commemorate my time in college by conceptualizing and executing the creation of this photo. I took inspiration from Vanitas style still life paintings which symbolize the brevity of life. Instead, I wanted to capture the brevity of being a college student. I collected objects to include that seemed very “quintessential college student,” like ramen and red solo cups. The color is very saturated to emphasize the artificiality, and the lighting has harsh shadows to mimic the bright overhead light of someone working late into the evening. Late nights, energy drinks, and youth don't last forever, but the feeling is still immortalized in my photo.
modern vanitas
modern vanitas
When conceptualizing and taking these backlit photos, I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to play with light. Specifically, I wanted to emphasize the contrast between light and dark. My model Julia wears a golden sun crown to emphasize the light from behind her, as if she has a halo. This physical, graphic halo is a reference to Christian art, where saints and other holy figures have a visible golden halo to indicate their divinity. The photo I took at the Mint Museum of Our Lady of Sorrows is an example of the presence of golden halos and the contrast between light and dark in religious art.
